Improvement in revolving-battery gums



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Patented April 9, 1872.

PATENT EEroE.

RICHARD J. GATLING, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.l

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING-BATTERY GUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,563, dated April 9, 1872.

Specification describing an Improved Revolvingl3attery Gun, invented by RICHARD JORDAN GATLING, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut.

This invention relates. to `several improvements on the Gratling Revolving-Battery Gun, for which two Letters Patent of the United States, numbered 47,631 and 112,138, were respectively granted on the 9th day of May, 1865, and 28th day of February, 1871. The object of the present invention is principally to reduce the length of lock andV consequent length of breech-case, and thereby diminish the weight, expense, and difficulty of manufacture of the entire gun. In this case I employ a detaining 4device provided with a transverse groove to receive the knobs on the rear end of the lock-hammers or firing-pins, and prevent them moving forward with the locks themselves, so that when said knobs, in consequence of the continued circular movement of the locks, escape from said groove, the spiral spring encirclingthe ring-pins shall cause them to deliver a sudden and powerful blow against the butt of the cartridge, and thus occasion the desired explosion and consequent discharge. The construction of the lock itself is modified in conformity with the aforementioned mechanism by providing the lock-hammer with an interior shoulder for the spring to bear against, and with aknob at the outer end for the grip of the detaining-cam. My invention also consists in an improved construction ofthe breech-case, lock-cylinder, and also of the carrier-block, with the view of adapting the same for the reception of the improved locks, the carrier-block being made hollow to reduce weight and cost of material.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents a longitudinal section of the breech part of the gun, showing the improved arrangement of parts. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the lock. Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections of the same on the lines cc-and c It, Fig. 2, respectively. Fig. 5is a detail side view of the lock-hammer. Fig. 6 is a transverse section, and Fig. 7 an end view of the head, which is screwed upon the lock-hammer. Fig. 8 is a front-end view of the breech-case, with the lock-cylinder and appendages removed. Figs. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections of the same on the line k o, Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows 1 and 2, respectively. Fig. 11 is a detail transverse section on the line k k, Fig. 8, showing how the lock-hammer or firing-pin is held back in the detaining-cam. Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section of the lock-cylinder and breechcase, the line c g in Figs. 1 and 9 indicating the plane of section. Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section of the carrier-block, the line q q in Fig. l indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

A in the drawing represents the cylindrical breech-case, secured upon the frame of the gun, which is mounted in suitable manner either upon a gun-carriage, tripod, or other suitable support. In this breech-case is the diaphragm a and cascabel-plate b, between which a chamber for the reception of the worm and worm-wheel is formed.. B is the axial shaft of the gun. It is hung substantially as described in my former patents, and serves to hold the barrels C C,

the carrier-block D, and the lock-cylinder E,

which revolve with it whenever it is turned by .-to by alon gitudinal screw, c, that p asses through the diaphragm a. By means of this screw the shell, with its cams, is held securely to its place. c is the cam-groove or track, whereon the locks are forced forward. Its front e'nd is, by a non-spiral portion, g, joined to the front end of the retracting-cam f. Directly behind thejunction of e and gis arranged the detaining-cam I. The saine is a curved plate having a dovetail shank, h, which enters a corresponding groove in an inwardly-projecting ear or block, i, of the shell H. A spring, j, placed between the diaphragm a and shank h, serves to force the detainin g cam forward, so that the upper end of its curved face will come against the cam e, but permits the same to move backward for purposes hereinafter specified. The face of the detaining-cam I has a countersunk groove, of such cross-section as most conveniently to receive the knob at the end ot the lock hammer, and as indicated in Fig. 11. Each lock F consists of a shell, l, and lockhammer m, as principal parts. The lock-hammer or iiring-pin has the ring-pin formed at its front end, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, and a knob, a, at its rear end, said knob being intended to fit the countersunk grooves of the detaining-cam. A spiral spring is placed within the shell Z and around the lock-hammer or tiring-pin, between a shoulder or head, o, on the latter, and a screw-plu g, p, at the back end of the shell. The head o is screwed upon the lock-hammer or iiring-pin, and is by the spiral spring held against the front end ofthe chamber in the shell. If the knob n is taken hold ot' and drawn back the spring will be contracted to violently propel the iiringpinforward whenever the knob is released. r is the cartridge-shell extractor, applied to the lock, and s the projecting lug on the lock, that moves along the cams e f, and thereby causes theforward and backward motion of the lock. t is a dovetail tenon on the lock-shell, tting into corresponding grooves of the lock-cylinder and carrier-block, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13. The carrier-block as well as the lock-cylinder, it will be seen, are cast or formed hollow, with supporting disks or arms that hold them to the shaft. Considerable weight and material are thereby economized. From the front end of the lock-cylinder projects a iiange, u, perforated to admit the locks, and made circular at the outer edge to fit and support the breechcase. The locks, when held by the grooved lock-cylinder, are with their projecting lugs s s in such contact with the cams, tracks, or grooves e f, respectively,` that they will, when revolved by the rotation of the lock-cylinder, be also moved forward and backward in the requisite manner to push the cartridges into the barrels, explode the charges, and withdraw the shells, substantially as specified in my foriner Letters Patent. When a lock approaches (along the cam c) its foremost position the knob n of its lock-hammer or firing-pin enters the upper end ot' the groove in the detaining-cam I. This caln is held against e and beveled at its upper end, that the knob may conveniently enter its groove. As the lock continues to advance, the cam I, however, detaining the knob 'n in the same vertical pla-ne, it is evident that the tiring-piu will be automatically drawn back within the lock and the spring contracted. As soon as the lock arrives in line with the inner or lower end of the detaining-cam I the knob is released by the latter and the lockhammer or tiring-pin propelled forward to explode the charge. In this manner the charges of the barrels are successively red with the utmost precision and regularity. The cam I may, if desired, be continued more or less far around, at such a distance from the tracks e f as to hold the point of the tiring-pin slightly drawn in, except when in the act of ring. When the shaft is turned in the wron g direction the knobs will strike the face of the cams I and push it back against the spring j, the detaining-cam being prevented thereby from cooking. The plate or face g braces the back ends of the locks at the moment of firing, and takes their recoil, being made strong and large for this purpose, as shown.

The arrangementof the automatic detainin geam in place of the cockin g apparatus formerly in use is of great advantage. It permits the dispensing of half the length of lock andbreechcase, and consequent reduction of expense and increase of carrying facility. It is Ilot in the way of the proper function of the other mechanism, and is positive in its action.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent- 1. A firing-pin detainer, when located or arranged in the breech-case of a revolving gun, between the transverse vertical planes bounding the terminations of lock-guides or tracks, substantially as described, for the purpose ot' economizin g space and operating the locks, as specified.

2. The combination of the detainer I with the cams, tracks, or guides e and g, as shown and described, whereby the locks are caused to advance while their firing-pins traverse and are held back in the groove of said dctainer until liberated to explode the cartridges, as set forth.

3. The lock F, consisting essentially of a shell, Z, provided with a lug, S, and with a tongue adapted to tit and operate as a guide in a groove of the revolving cylinder, and the firing-pin having a knob or its equivalent on its projecting rear end, substantially as specified.

4. A rotary-battery gun, provided with revolving locks whose tiring-pins are held back by means of the rear or knob ends of the same engaging with a detainin g device, substantially as described.

5. In a revolving-battery gun the combination of the spring j with the detainer, whereby it is adapted to yield backward, as shown and described.

G. The combination of the locks F, provided with lugs s, and lock-hammers or spring firingpins m n, with the guides e, f, and g, and grooved detaining device I, all constructed, arranged, and operating as specified.

RICHARD J. GATLING.

Witnesses:

EUGENE D. Fisk, FREDERICK EBERLE. 

